BY RAYMUND ANTONIO
Militant group Anakpawis is not convinced that there was no forcible entry into the Quezon City apartment where its chair Randy Echanis was killed on August 10.
“(The) police claim that Echanis voluntarily opened his door or knew his killers, in a brazen attempt for a cover-up; but the crime scene says otherwise,” Anakpawis leader Ariel Casilao said in a statement on Thursday.
The partylist group refuted the claim of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) as the door knob and strike plate were found broken in Echanis’ apartment.
Anakpawis dispatched a team, along with barangay officials, it said, to look into the crime scene which indicated a “brute force entry.”
“It was a clear murder and we highly believe state forces were behind it following their hostaging of his remains and twisted stories,” Casilao said.
The QCPD finally released the remains of the slain Anakpawis chair and peace consultant after it confirmed that the deceased was Echanis.
“QCPD’s cover-up is the reason why we will never trust them with the investigation. We urge them to stop the lies as it further (aggravates) the brutal death (of) and injustice (against) Echanis,” Casilao said.
Human rights group Karapatan called for an independent investigation by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Echanis’ death. (Raymund Antonio)
